ROAD SAFETY: Operation Safe Arrival, the State's Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, started at 12.01am on Friday 15 December, and will continue until 11.59pm on Monday 1 January 2018.Supplied

950 drivers breath tested in weekend police blitz

MORE than 950 breath-tests have been given out in the Northern Rivers area by police in the last 24 hours.

Richmond LAC inspector Bill McKenna said as NSW Police continue to have a heightened presence on the roads as Operation Safe Arrival continues, local officers are tasked day and night to undertake random breath tests across the Richmond LAC.

"In the last 24 hours Highway Patrol and general duties officers breathalysed in excess of 950 persons in the Richmond LAC and issued in excess of 75 traffic infringer for speeding and other offences," he said.

"Police are heavily tasked every day and night to undertake breath-testing across the command and the focus is to make sure people holidaying and living in this area arrive safely and not place themselves and their family members at risk".

Insp McKenna said over the holiday period there will be an increase in drivers and cars on the Northern Rivers roads and holiday makers and residents must be aware police are targeting drink-driving and traffic offences.

Insp McKenna said Operation Safe Arrival, the State's Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, started at 12.01am on Friday 15 December, and will continue until 11.59pm on Monday 1 January 2018.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said three people died on NSW roads on day two of Operation Safe Arrival, with two women and a man killed after single vehicle crashes near Griffith, Yeoval and North St Marys.

"That is a staggering number of wives, husbands, sons or daughters that won't be returning home this festive season," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.